Turnstile mechanism



March 30,1926. 2- 1,578,660

F. HEDLEY El Ag TURNSTILE MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 .INVENTOR Ma rcli 3Q, 1926.

F. HEDLEY ET AL I v TURNSTILE MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sh'aet 2 Filed June 25, 1921 March 30 1926.

. v F. HEDLEY ET AL TURNS T ILE MECHANISM Filed June 2 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR BY mATTORNEW March 30,, 1-926.

' F. HE DLEY ET AL TURNSTILELMECHANISM Filed Jline .25, 192i s'sneets-sneef 5 PROPIER W Patented M... 30, 1926.

' UNI'TED "STATES -P-A'TENT foFr cE.

FRANK OF YONK EB S, AN D JAMES B. DQYLE, 0F MOUNT VEBNON, NEW YORK.

Application filed June 25, 1921. Serial- No. 480,285.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that; we, FRANK HEDLEY and 7 JAMES S. DOYLE, both citizens of the United States, and residing, respectively, at Yonkers and Mount Vernon, county of Westchester, State of New York, have made a certain new anduseful Invention in Turnstile Mechanism, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to turnstile mechamsm. The' object of the invention is to provide a turnstile mechanism which is coin controlled for controlling a restricted passageway. r l

A further object of the invention is to provide a turnstlle mechanism which is normally locked against movement for pas sa e through a restricted passageway in one rection, but free for movement for passage thrZugh a passageway in the other direction.

urther object of the invention is to provide means to automatically prevent a too rapid operation of. a turnstile mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arran fullyherema-fter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in theappended claims.

Referring to the accompanying. draw- 111 S,r-

,turnstile mechanism embodying theprinthe arrows;

ciples of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the same; v Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section on the line 33, Fig.2, looking'in the direction Fig. 6 is a broken detail view in top plan showing the arrangement of stop. lugs;

Fig. 7 is a similar view'on the line 7-7, Fig. 6, looking in the direct on of the arrows; 5.

Fig. -8 isa view similar to Fig. 2, showing ment of parts all as will be more ig. v1 .is a view infront elevation of a a slightly modified arrangement embodying the principles of our invention; 7

Fig. 9 is a broken detail view in vertica section on the line 9-9, Fig. 8;

Flg. 10 is a view in horizontal section on theline 1010, Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a View in 11 11, Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is. a top plan view-of a registering section on the line mechanismembodying the principles of our 1 invention; 4 a

Fig. 13 is a circuit diagram illustrating the o eration of 'airegistering mechanism cmb ying our invention.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views. i

In entrances to platforms or stations of subway, elevated, surface railway and.

street car systems, amusement places, theatres, ferries and the like, it is a common custom to employ restricted passageways having turnstiles to control passage through such passageways to permit passage there through in one direction only. Sometimes theturnstile is employedto effect a registration of persons passing through the passageway, thereby insuring that only one person at a time may pass through the passageway,-and that a fare be collectedfrom each person passing through'anda regis-' tration of the numbers.

Our present invention relates to apparatus of this general, chzaacter. Experience, however, has shown that in the use of ap- -paratus of this nature, it frequently ha pens that a person may pass throught e turnstileor otherwise. operate the same too rapidly to permit the registering mechanism to function properly, or to cause the turnstile armsto overthrow or pass beyond predetermined limits of movement for a single person, and hence enable two or more persons to pass through with-only one actuation of the registering mechanism, and

where controlled bythe passage of a coin,

permitting two 'or' more persons to pass I through when only asingle coin is employed. It isamong the special purposes of our presentinvention to provide a turnstile mechanism of this general character wherein roautomatically look a turnstile against opervision is made of means to prevent an to i ation at a too rapid rate of speed. It is also among the special purposes of our'present invention to provide means which will insure a proper centering of the turnstile in a-predetermined position after each actuation thereof.

In carrying out our present invention, we

employ suitable railings 14, which are spaced apart to provide a passageway hein said framework, and preferably centrally with respect thereto, is a shaft 16, upon the upper end of which is mounted ahub 17, carryinn' the radial arms 18. The hub 17 is held hetween' plates 19, a cap nut 20 serving to clamp and hold the hub 17 and plates 19 upon the upper end ot the shaft 16 v llpon the shaft 16 is mounted the center- 'ing cam head 21 to rotate with said shaft. This cam head co-operates with a cam head 22, whichis fixed relativelyfto the cam head 21. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1,

2, 4-and 5, the, cam head 22 is held against rotative movement by means of pins 23,

which extend into vertical slots formed in brackets 24, mounted upon a cross member 25, connecting the side portions of the frame. This arrangement permits a movement of the cam head 22 towards and from the cam head 21, but retains said cam head 22 against rotative movement. Any suitable or con- Venient yielding tension may be imposed upon cam head 22 normally pressing the same or the cam face thereof against the cam face of cam head 21. For this purpose we have shown a spring 26 interposed between a crosspiece 27 of the frame, and the under sideof the cam head 22, and normally exerting its tension to press yieldingly the cam head 22 upwardly towards the -cam head 21. Co-operating cam faces of the heads 21, 22, are shown more clearly m Figs. 8 and 9. These cam faces are formed with interlocking space roject ons corresponding in number and relation to the arms 18 of the turnstile, so that when the turnstile arms are rotarily displaced, the cam surface of the head 21 will ride over the co-operating cam surfaces of head 22, the latter yielding against the tension of 86w sprng 26until the next seating engagement occurs. i This affords a very simple and efiecti've centering arrangement to insure the proper centering of the turnstile at each step of its rotative operation.

In the modification of Figs. 8' and 9, we

jwapeo dispense with the tension spring 26, and depend upon the action of gravity due to the. weight of the turnstile hub and arms, as well as that of the shaft 16. In other words, the shaft carrying the hub and arms is longitudinally movable vertically. In this arrangement the cam head 22 is fixed upon the cross member25 of the frame.

Upon shaft 16, either below the ratchet mechanism presentl to be described, as in Figs. 2 and 5, or ahove said ratchet mechanism, as in Figs. 8 and 9, is mounted block 28, upon which are mounted conductor sections 29, with which co-operatc contact fingers 30, through which the coin controlled circuit arrangement is controlled.

Mounted upon the shaft 16 is a ratchetwheel having ratchet teeth 31 on its peripheral edge, and also having on its under surface ratchet teeth 32 arranged in groups, each group being separated by a shoulder 33. The shoulders 33 are displaced apart from each other a distance corresponding to the distance apart of the turnstile arms '18. Cosoperating with the peripheral teeth 31 is'a spring pressed pawl 34, and co-operating with the shoulders 33 is a locking dog 35. The pawl 31 is controlled by an arm 36. The locking dog 35 and the arm 36 are mounted upon a shaft 37 which extends transversely across the frame, and has mounted thereon a tension spring 38, operating to impart a rotative tension to said shaft which normally tends to press the dog 35 into locking engagement with respect to the shoulders 33 of the ratchet wheel, and the arm 36 in position to hold the pawl 34 out of engagement with the ratchet teeth 31. Anarm 39 connected to the shaft 37 isarranged in the path of the projection 40 from a piston operating in a smallpneumatic-cylinder 41. With this arrangement it will be seen that when air pressure is admitted to the lower end of cylinder 41, the projection 40 is 0 rated to engage the arm 39, and to rock shaft 37, thereby withdrawing locking' dog 35 from engagement with the shoulder 33 of the ratchet wheel, while at the same time the arm 36 is moved in a direction to'per'mit the pawl 34 to engage the ratchet teeth 31 of the ratchet wheel, thereby permitting the free rotation of the ratchet wheel and turnstile shaft for entranceoperation, for example. lVhen the air pressure is exhausted from cylinder 41, the locking dog 35 is restored to locking en gagement with res ect to the shoulder 33 of the ratchet whee thereby retaining and locking the turnstile in the position deter.- minedby the relation of a'locking shoulder 33,'and hence locking-the turnstile against, for example, entrance operation. Where' locking shoulders 33 and teeth 32 are so positioned as to permit the free operation or rotation of the ratchet wheel and turnstile paratus by depositing only a single coin, weprovide an automatic stop mechanism shown.

direction of exit operation, the locking pawl and shoulder engagement only locks the turnstile against operation in the other or, for instance, entrance direction. The pawl 34 forms a detent to prevent reverse rotation of the turnstile arins and shaft when the. locking dog 35 is-disengaged, and consequently when a rotative movement is once inaugurated of the turnstile arms in entrance direction, that movement must be completed through at least one step of operation or until the pressure medium is again exhausted from the cylinder 41.

The supply of pressure medium to th'e'cylinder 41 may be controlled in any suitable o'r convenient manner. For this purpose we have indicated a magnet valve device 42, the circuit of which, in the case of the coin controlled apparatus, is controlled by the deposit of a coin, as will presently more clearly appear. M

In order to prevent derangement of the apparatus by reason of a too ra id rotation of the turnstile arms in either irection, or the operation of said arms. at a rate of speed too great to permit proper functioning of the devices controlled by the deposit of a single coin, or to prevent the turnstile arms from being operated so rapidly that two or more persons may pass through the apmore clearly inFigs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7. This automatic stop mechanism is exceedingly simple, and consists of a mounting 43 carried by a cross member 44 of the framework, ora' bracket 45 mounted on the framework (see Fig. 5). Pivotally mounted in the member 43 are stop pawls 46, 47. These pawls have upwardly extending noses 48, the nose of one of said pawls permits rotation in one direction and the nose of the other of said pawls in the opposite direction with reference to the direction of rotative movement of the turnstile arms, said noses having rounded end surfaces as indicated at 49 (see Figs, '6 and 7.). Each of these pawls is carried by a pintle 50, which is journaled in the mounting 43, and are retained in their seats by a retaining plate 51. The heel end surfaces of the dogs 46 and 47 are rounded ofl as indicated at 52 see Fig. 7).

ouhted upon eacharm of the turnstile is a channel plate or member 53 in position for the edge flanges 54 thereof to pass over the stop dogs 46, 47, asthe arms succes sively pass over the mounting 43. The stop dogs are so proportioned that they normally lie in. position for the noses 49 thereof to extend above the mounting 43, and intb position to be engaged b flanges 54 of the channel members 53, an when so engaged said stop dogs are tilted about their' plntles 50 so as to raise their heel portions 52. The operation of this stop device is very simple. Assuming that the turnstile is being operated for entrance operation, for example,

the advancing flange 54, of the stop arm will engage the nose 49 of the stop' dog, thereby tilting said dog into position -for the heel portion 52 thereof to be engaged by the other flange of said member 53, thereby forming astop' to arrest the rotative movement of the turnstile arms. The flanges 54 are spaced a sufficient distance apart so that at a normal rate of speed of operation, the advance flange 54 of the member 53 will engage and ride over and past: the projecting nose 49 of the stop dog, and permit the tilted heel end thereof to return to retracted positiontbefore the rearmost flange 54 engagessaid heel. If, however, the turnstile arm is operated too rapidly, or at an excessive speed, then a suflicient time interval does not elapse to permit the tilted stop dog tilted by the advance flange of the member 53, to return to normal position before the rearmost flange of the memher 53 is brought into abutment with :the V heel surface 52, and hence the rotative movement of the arms is arrested. If the turnstile is turned in the opposite direction, the dog will be rocked just the same as before, .but the heel portion thereofwould in this case be tilted by the advance flange of the member 53, but would not form a stop, as there would be no second flange to abut against it. For this reason, we employ two stop pawls positioned in relatively opposite directions, so that thespeed control of the turnstile is effected in whichever direction I the turnstile is operated.

.The fare control of the apparatus may be effected by any suitable arran ement. We have. shown in Fig. 13 a circui diagram to illustrate the principles involved, and wherein a coin or other token- 55'is deposited in I a fare' box indicated generally at 56, Fig: 12, and effects a closing of circuit between terminals 57, 58. Thiscompletes a circuit from trolley or other current source at 59 1 through wire a, conductor fingers 30, and contacts 29, wire 5, through the'coils 65 of a relay magnet, wire a, bridging contact 60, wire d, contact 57, coin 55, contact 58, .to ground at 61. Upon the closing of this circuit, the. coils 65 are energized, and ,the

switch members 62, 63 are closed upon contacts while the switch member 60 is opened.

The closing of, switch member 62' establishes .a holding circuit for the coils 65 through wire 0 to ground at 64, thereby retaining the relay coils energized after the coin 55 breaks the circuit between contacts 57, 58.

The closing of the switch 63 which is accomplished when the coils 'ofthe relay are energized, completes the circuit from a current source ortrolley 59 through wire f,

switch 63, wire 5 and coils 66 of the magnet valve to ground at 67. This energizes the magnet valve 42 and opens the cylinder 41 to a compressed air source 67 through pipe connection 68, thereby actuating the projection 40 and closing the locking dog 35 from the ratchet wheel. The turnstile is then free to rotate. and as soon as its rotation commences, the fingers 30 pass off of a conductor strip 29, thereby breaking the circuit of relay 65, which causes switches 62 and .63 to open, and switch 60 to close, and hence restoring the circuit arrangement to its initial relation ready for another operation. The opening of the circuit switch 63 de-cuergizes the magnet valve 66, thereby shutting off the supply of pressure medium to cylinder 41. and opening the same to exhaust in a well known manner, thereby restoring the locking dog 35 to engaging relation with the locking shoulder 33 on the ratchet wheel.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that we provide an exceedingly simple turnstile mechanism which is inexpensive to keep up, and is efiicient in operation. The structure is simple, and complications of structure are eliminated. The apparatus is suitable for both entrance and exit passage, the entrance passage being controlled so as to permit actuation only by the deposit of a coin or token, such deposit effecting a release of the lockingmechanism for a single step of operation. It will also be seen that after a single step of operation, the apparatus is properly centered or restored to position ready for a successive operation. It will also be seen that we provide against the danger, trouble and annoyance, and

sometimes loss through an excessive speed of peration, while still permitting a sufliciently speedy action to avoid congestion of trafiic through the apparatus. A station or entrance equipped with turnstile apparatus of the nature described is normally locked as an entrance, but is unlocked for exitoperation, and, therefore, the apparatus constitutes in effect an automatic means for locking up a station to prevent entrance without fare prepayment, while remaining free for exit operation. This dispenses with the necessity for using separate exit gates or controls, and very simply and efliciently combines the entrance and exit operations in one structure.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of our invention and structures eming controlled or restricted, and means to control the speed of operation thereof.-

2. A turnstile mechanism normally operable in opposite directions, the operation thereof in one direction being free and unrestricted, and that in the other direction heing. controlled or restricted, and automatic means to control the speed of operation thereof. a

3. At-urnstile mechanism including means to permit free passage therethrou 'h in one direction, and a controlled or restricted passage in the other direction, and means to control the speed of operation thereof in either direction.

4. A turnstile mechanism for a restricted passageway, said mechanism operable in 013- posite directions for entrance and exit use respectively, and being normally locked againstentrance operation, but free for exit operation, in combination with devices for releasing the mechanism for use for entrance respectively, and being normally locked against entrance operation, but free for exit operation, in combination with devices for releasing the mechanism for use for entrance operation, said means operating to prevent reverse operation after being unlocked for entrance.

6. A control mechanism for a restricted passageway, including barrier devices, locking means operating to normally lock said devices against operation in one direction while permitting free operation in the opposite direction, and means for temporarily releasing said locking means and means for arresting excessive speed.

7. A turnstile mechanism including barrier arms rotatable in opposite directions and means to automatically stop said arms against rotation, when rotated above a predetermined speed in either direction.

8. A turnstile mechanism including barrier arms normally rotatable in opposite directions in combination with stop dogs arranged in the path of travel of said arms, to be engaged thereby, whereby= rotative movement of said arms is arrested when rotatively moved at an excessive speed in either direction.

9. A turnstile mechanism including barrier arms, mounted to rotate in either direction, a mounting fixed in the path of said arms, a stopdog mounted in said mounting, and means carried by the arms to engage said dog, whereby said arms are arrested in case of excessive speed of rotative movement.

10. A turnstile mechanism including rota movement of said arms, to be tilted thereby, and means carried bysaid arms to be engaged by the tilted dog to form a stop for the arms in caseof excemive speed ofrotative move? meat.

11. A turnstile mechanism including barrier arms, a channel member carried by each arm, a pivotally mounted dog arranged inthe path of movement of said arms, said dog having a projecting nose to be engaged by one flange of the channel member, whereby said dog is tilted to engage the other flange .of said channel member in case of excessive or abnormal state of rotative movement of saidarms. 1 4 12. A turnstile mechanism including rotatable barrier arms in combination with oppositely disposed stop dogs arranged in the path of'movement of said arms, to be engaged thereby as the arms pass thereover. for actuation into position to form a stop for said arms in case of excessive speed of rotative movement in either direction.

113. A turnstile mechanism including a vertically disposed sha'ft a hub having radial arms said hub mounted on to rotate with said shaft, a stop dog arranged adjacent the path of. said arms, means carried by each arm arranged to enga e and tilt said dog, and means also carr1e by each arm to enage said dog when in tilted position to erm a stop for said arms.

14. A turnstile mechanism including a vertically disposed shaft, a hub having ra- .dial arms, said hub mounted on to rotate with said shaft, a stop dog having a rounded projecting nose portion, means carried by each arm. arranged to en age said projecting nose portion to tilt said og, and means also carried by each arm to engage the heel'end of said dog when in tilted position to form a stop for the arm.

15. A turnstile mechanism including a vertically disposed shaft, a hub having radial arms, said hub mounted on to rotate with said shaft, a stop dog having a rounded projecting nose portion and a heel portion, I

and spaced apart means carried by each arm,

one of said spaced apart means arranged to engage and ass over-saidnose portion to cause the bee portion to tilt into position toto tilt said dogs into position to form a stop for the other of said spaced apart means.

17. A turnstile mechanism 7 including a; vertically disposed shaft mounted for rotation in opposite directions for entrance and exit operation respectively, and carrying turnstile arms, a wheel carried thereby havturnstile arms, a pawl co-operating with said. peripheral teeth, a stop co-operating with said stop shoulders, and means whereby when said stop is disengaged from a stop shoulder, said pawl is engaged in said peripheral teeth.

18. A turnstile mechanism including a vertically disposed shaft carrying turnstile arms, a wheel carried thereby having peripheral teeth and also having stop shoulders corresponding in position to said turnstile arms, a pawl co-operating with said peripheral teeth, a stop co-operating with and normally engaging said stop shoulders,

a controlling arm for said pawl, a shaft upon which said stop and pawl controlling arm is mounted, and means to rock said shaft whereby when said stopis disengaged said. pawlis engaged.

19 A turnstile mechanism including a vertically disposed shaft carrying turnstile arms, 'a wheel carried thereby having peripheral teeth and also having stop shoulders corresponding in position to said turnstile arms, a pawl co-operating with said peripheral teeth, a stop co-operating with "said stop shoulders, at controlling arm for said pawl, a shaft upon which said stop and pawl controlling arm is mounted, means to impose 'a tension on said shaft to normally hold'said stop-in engagement and said pawl out of engagement, and means to rock said shaft.

20. A turnstile mechanism including a vertically disposed shaft carrying turnstile arms, a wheel carried thereby having peripheral teeth and also having stop shoulders corresponding in position to said turnstile arms, a pawljco-operating with said pe-- ripheral teeth, a stop co-operating with said stop shoulders, and means whereby when said stop is disengaged from a stop shoulder said teeth.

21. A turnstile mechanism including a -vertic'ally disposed shaft carrying radial arms, and means to permit said shaft to move rotatively in step by'stepppera-tion in a combination with centering means for each step olfrotativemovement of said shaft, including oppositely disposed cam heads mounted on said shaft and having engaging cam surfaces, one mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and, the other held against rotation, said. cam heads being relatively movable the one towards or away from the other. i

22. A- turnstile mechanism including a vertically disposed shaft carrying radial arms, and means to permit said shaft to move rotatively in step by step operation in ing peripheral teeth and also having stop shoulders corresponding in position to said pawl is .engaged in said peripheral a cam surfaces, one mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and the other held against rotation, said cam heads being relatively movable the one towards or away from the other, and means normally operating to yieldingly press said heads into engagement with each other.

23. A turnstile mechanism including a vertically disposed shaft carrying radial arms, and means to permit said shaft to move rotatively in step by step operation in combination with centering means for each step of rotative movement of said shaft, including oppositely disposed cam headshaving engaging cam surfaces, one mounted on said shaft to rotate therewith and the other held against rotation, said cam heads being relatively movable the one towards or away from the other, and a spring arranged to yieldingly press one of said heads into engagement with the other. I

24. A t-urnstile mechanism operable in opposite directions, and means effective when said mechanism isoperated in'either direction to prevent reverse movement in the opposite direction.-

25. A turnstile operable in both entrance and exit directions, and normally free for exit operation, means to normally lock the same against operation in entrance direction, and means to release said lock, said means also operating to lock the mechanism against exit operation.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands on this 20th day of June, A. D.

' FRANK HEDLEY.

JAMES S. DOYLE. 

